Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2009 Audi A8, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Exterior lighting1
- Electrical system1
- Visibility1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2009 Audi A8 failed the safety check 1.56% of the time — 38% less often than the average 2009 passenger car (2.52%). Median odometer at inspection: 113,922 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
24 first registered in 2009 are on Dutch roads; 63% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €124,028.
Most common APK defects
- Band onvoldoende profiel12
- Waarschuwingsinrichting controlesysteem bandenspanning geeft8
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde8
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen7
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm5
- Stuurkogel te veel speling4
- Draaipunt onafhankelijke wielophanging te veel speling4
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling4
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
272 cars built in 2009 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 133 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 427 of these cars first registered in 2009 took their annual MOT test. 80% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2009 the figure was 59%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.7% | 18.7% |
| Visibility | 5.6% | 6.5% |
| Tyres | 5.4% | 7.5% |
| Suspension | 4.0% | 16.4% |
| Brakes | 3.3% | 10.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.9% | 5.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
11 of these cars first registered in 2009 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 341,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
9 2009 cars are on the New Zealand register; 67% arrived as used imports, 33% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 12.8 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 294 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| A8 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.7 | 10.4 | 12.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2009 Audi A8.
| 2016287 6 Jun 2016 | Accessories On certain vehicles, the glass panel of the sunroof may not have been properly bonded to the sunroof frame. This could allow the glass panel to separate from th… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Audi A8 and S8 vehicles. The sunroof glass on the affected vehicles may not be properly secured to the sunroof frame. As a result, the sunroof glass may detach from the car while driving.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 2009 Audi A8: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011285 | This TSB Provides information when parking assistance provides false warnings. |
| 11011282 | This bulletin provides information when speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference is noted. |
| 11011240 | This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool |
| 11009983 | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available |
| 11009941 | This bulletin provides diagnostic information regarding the locking system. |
| 11009928 | This bulletin provides informatin when the engine does not run smoothly at idling speeds. |
| 11009356 | This bulletin provides informaion regarding zirconium inserts in the bake piston for vehicle equipped with ceramic brakes. |
| 11009351 | This bulletin provides information regarding the general approach to brakes rubbing. |
| 11009347 | This bulletin provides information when there are vibrations and rotational steering wheel vibrations. |
| 11009313 | This bulletin provides guidance in order to provid informaiton regarding preparatoin when calling the Audi Technical Assistnce Center (TAC). |
| 11007345 | This bulletin proves information when the bluetooth does not work, adaption channel deactivated. |
| 11007315 | This bulletin provides information vibrations and rotational steering wheel vibrations. |
| 11007305 | This bulletin offers information about the basic information needed for technical requests for gaerbox complaints. |
| 11007264 | This bulletin proves information when the bluetooth does not work, adaption channel deactivated. |
| 11007234 | This bulletin provides information vibrations and rotational steering wheel vibrations. |
| 11007224 | This bulletin offers information about the basic information needed for technical requests for gaerbox complaints. |
| 11005935 | This bulletin provides informaiton when there are speaker rattles, vibrations or audio interference in the sound system. |
| 11005865 | This bulletin provides information when there are noises/vibration from the front of the vehicle while in dynamic mode. |
| 11005848 | This bulletin provides Audi technicians with information to prepare for contact to the Technical Assistance Center (TAC). |
| 11003026 | This bulletin provides informationw hen there are optical concerns with the tail lights. |
| 11003024 | This bulletin provides informaiton when there are speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference.A1 |
| 11002981 | This bulletin provides information when there are speaker rattles, vibration or audio interference. |
| 11002957 | This bulletin provides informationw hen there are optical concerns with the tail lights. |
| 11002955 | This bulletin provides informaiton when there are speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference.A1 |
| 11002912 | This bulletin provides information when there are speaker rattles, vibration or audio interference. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)